Adventure in vietnam
december 2023 & january 2024
With a small international group (max. 12 people) and a Vietnamese private guide we will set off. The trip starts in the city of Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) and brings you close to the friendliest people in Asia. By bike we will visit colourful markets and get to know the Vietnamese cuisine. Of course we will dive into the rich history of Vietnam and the Khmer culture. We exchange the hustle and bustle of the city for the green, breathtaking nature of the Mekong Delta. Small bridges and many ferries help us to cross the mostly rural environment. The roads in this area are flat and the exotic landscape is perfect for bicycle tours. Visits to historical sites, temples and pagodas complete this cultural tour.
The second part of the trip takes us to the North. We fly to the capital Hanoi where we continue the tour with our own luxury minibus. The green and mountainous Sapa is an excellent base for challenging hikes.Then we will go back to Hanoi where you have a few days to explore this vibrant city. The tour ends on the Vietnamese coast with a magnificent trip through the waters near the fantastic Ha Long Bay.
Day to day program
Day 1. Arrival in Ho Chi Minh city. Welcome meeting on the rooftop terrace of our hotel. In the evening a short walk and dinner on Ben Than market. Nhi Yen Ho will be our tour guide, with whom we are working together for several years. Nhi is proud of her country, loves to talk about it and is a pleasure to travel with.
Day 2. After breakfast we transfer by private bus to Ben Tre, have lunch on the way, before we pay a visit to China Town and a special pagoda with beautiful Buddha statues. Late afternoon it is time to fit our bikes. Overnight stay in Ben Tre.
Day 3. Our first bike tour (30 km) on the coconut island where we will visit a coconut farm and brick factory. Of course we have a taste of fresh coconut juice. At the market our guide Nhi will show us many exotic products and a lot of different fruits and vegetables.
Day 4. Bike tour to Tra Vinh (48 km), a lovely quiet trip through beautiful surroundings. There are several ferries to take to get us to our hotel in Tra Vinh, next to the city centre market.
Day 5. Bike tour to Tra Cu (48 km). Today we will see many rice fields and Khmer, a minority people with Cambodian roots. They will greet us enthusiastically!
Day 6. Bike tour to Soc Trang (50 km). Just another lovely ride along small farms, rivers and canals on the way to Soc Trang.
Day 7. After four days of cycling, no biking today. Our private bus brings us to the small town of Nga Nam where five rivers come together. Here we will visit the authentic floating market. Do not forget your camera!
Day 8. Today’s beautiful bike tour (40 km) follows the river and takes us to a little basket making village. We visit an ice factory and several markets before our bus picks us up and brings us back to Nga Nam.
Day 9. The morning starts with a challenge: we put our bikes on long-tail boats for a 2,5 hour river cruise. The boats will drop us off at noon and after lunch we start cycling (40 km) to Can Tho. Our good friend Mr. Hung will welcome us at his homestay.
Day 10. Early morning we leave by boat (breakfast on board) to visit a huge floating market. During this trip we will drop by a rice noodles factory and a vegetable and flower nursery. Another overnight stay at Mr. Hungs residence.
Day 11. A long day of travelling. An early domestic flight brings us in two hours to Hanoi. In Hanoi a private bus takes us to Sapa in the North (300 km).
Day 12 & 13. Two days in Sapa means endless views of majestic rice terraces in this hikers paradise. In for a challenge? Climb the Fansipan (3143 m), ‘the roof of Indochina’. An excursion to a Hmong minority village and their farming techniques is included.
Day 14. Our bus leaves early to Bac Ha (110 km) to drop by the famous Sunday market. You have all day to explore this vibrant little town, where we stay overnight.
Day 15. Time to go back to Hanoi (312 km), where we arrive around 4 pm and stay for two nights. Our hotel is centrally located in a nice part of town. At night you can stroll around or visit a traditional water puppet show.
Day 16. In the morning we explore Hanoi by mountain bike, joined by a local guide. In the afternoon there is still plenty of time to visit the old town (Old Quarter).
Day 17. After breakfast our bus takes us to Cat Ba island (160 km), near Ha Long Bay, here we spend two nights. Late afternoon we visit a nice rooftop bar to enjoy the beautiful sunset.
Day 18. Today a spectacular cruise through Ha Long Bay is planned. Lunch on board and enough time to swim, take a kayak or enjoy the scenery on board with an ice cold beer.
Day 19. Our bus brings us back to Hanoi where you have time to relax or do some shopping. In the evening we will find a cosy place to have our farewell dinner party.
Day 20. All good things come to an end. We pack our bags and say goodbye!
Referenties
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Contact
Please contact me about booking information for this Vietnam adventure.
Send an email to reizenspithoven @ gmail.com
- +31(0)625312899
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Reizen Spithoven
KvK 74763822
Eindhoven